Why Speed Matters More Than You Think (From Someone Who Learned It the Hard Way)

[Jeremy Beland]

If there’s one thing I wish someone drilled into me when I was starting out, it’s this:

Whoever responds fastest… wins.
Almost every time.

I didn’t learn that from a study.
I learned it from losing deals I should’ve had.

I’d call a seller back a few hours later and hear:
“Sorry, someone else already came by and we signed with them.”

That one hurts.

Later on, after tightening up my system, the numbers backed up what I experienced:

78% of sellers go with the first person who responds. 

Responding within an hour makes you 7× more likely to turn that lead into an actual deal.

You don’t need to memorize the stats.

Just remember this:

Speed equals trust.
Speed equals momentum.
Speed equals money.

When a seller reaches out, they’re already stressed, overwhelmed, or ready to be done. They want the fastest solution, not the “best investor.”

If you don’t respond fast… someone else will.
And they’ll get the contract you should’ve had.

It’s not about being perfect.
It’s about being first.

In off-market real estate, speed isn’t a bonus…
it’s a competitive advantage.